Last week Houston voters overwhelmingly defeated an ordinance designed to prevent discrimination against protected classes, including the right for transgender individuals to use the bathroom with which they identify. The Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, or HERO, was defeated by a margin of 2-1.
This week we discuss the issue with trans female and Chicago performer Kelly Lauren, as well as LGBT activist, owner of FTM Essentials (NSWF-ish), and proud mother of a trans girl Searah Deysach.
 
Much of the anti-HERO rhetoric focused on the (false) notion that transgender individuals are likely to attack you in a bathroom, specifically trans women attacking small girls. You can checkout one of their campaign videos below:

 

 

 

We talk about the unquestionable statistics which completely refute this notion, as well as the fact that most people who are transgender want to present very much like the gender with which they identify. This is what led Kelly to work with a photographer in order to depict just how the scenario might play out if she were forced into the bathroom of her assigned-at-birth gender. The photo went viral last week, including an article published by the Huffington Post.
We sidetrack a bit into a discussion over general political correctness, particularly the evolving use of appropriate terms for communities (tranny being the hot-button one).
Searah then opens up about her progressive parenting style, how her daughter came out as trans, and the struggles and victories of raising a kid in a binary-everything culture.
Lots of great discussion, and we cover many more topics!
Also, CHICAGO! The fantastic, compelling, and sexy Bawdy Storytelling is coming to Chicago, and yours truly will be on it. It's THIS Thursday, November 12 at 8pm. Tickets available by clicking HERE.
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